Power Sector Failed in 2017, Fashola Admits

The Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has tactically admitted that his ministry failed Nigerians by not living up to expectations in 2017.

The former Governor of Lagos State confirmed that power ministry did not implement any capital project in the 2017 budget.

He made this disclosure on Wednesday, 17 January, when he appeared before the Senate committee on works to defend the 2018 budget of the ministry. He cited low passage of the budget as the prime reason for the non-implementation.

Responding to questions from Barnabas Gemade, who asked why there was zero performance of capital projects in 2017, the minister said the late passage of the budget delayed procurement plans in most cases.

“The 2017 budget was passed in June. The procurement law requires a procurement plan which took till September. In following this law, the first release was in August.

“Most of the projects were going through procurement formalities such as tax identity, contract terms and even construction companies went on holidays so there were so many things.

“It is a tough task,” Mr. Fashola said. “We may be allowed to submit those details. The ending solution which has not found favour is the one that should be appropriated. Once you appropriate a project in a particular budget, it should not be lined up in another year.

“Most of these roads are 50 km to 100km. I ask in your states, 5km takes 24 months then if we have more in a budget, we cannot finish it. It is not what we want. Our resources are not increasing in an exponential manner to our projects,” Fashola explained.